GNFS halts Roman Ridge construction after building collapse
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has ordered the immediate suspension of all construction activities at Roman Ridge following the collapse of a three-storey building on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred within the Roman Ridge Engineering Centre enclave, situated between a 10-storey high-rise apartment complex and the Ghana Institute of Engineering.
The building, reportedly being constructed by Fabrico Builders, caved in during ongoing works, trapping several workers under the rubble.
According to the GNFS, the Service received a distress call at 12:18 pm, prompting the swift deployment of a rescue team from the National Headquarters, led by Assistant Divisional Officer II Ankrah. The team arrived at the scene at 12:29 pm and immediately commenced search and rescue operations.
All 14 affected persons, identified as male workers on site, were successfully rescued with the assistance of emergency responders and bystanders. They were subsequently transported to the 37 Military Hospital and the Ridge Hospital for medical treatment.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported hearing a loud cracking sound moments before the structure gave way, sending plumes of dust into the air and causing panic in the vicinity. Several construction materials and equipment were buried beneath the debris.
Authorities confirmed that while the victims sustained varying degrees of injuries, no fatalities had been recorded at the time of reporting.
In a statement, the GNFS said preliminary assessments could not immediately determine the cause of the structural failure. The Service has, however, initiated a full-scale investigation to establish the circumstances that led to the collapse.
“The site manager has been directed to halt all construction activities with immediate effect pending the outcome of investigations. The Service has also advised the contractor to ensure full compliance with safety and structural integrity standards before any work can resume,” the statement read.
Officials from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other regulatory bodies are expected to collaborate with the GNFS and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the ongoing investigations.
The Fire Service has assured the public that further updates will be provided as more details emerge, while reiterating its commitment to enforcing safety standards across construction sites to prevent similar incidents in the future.
